Vogelsang vs Glen Aulin - day hike from HSC area
- maverick
- Forums Moderator
- Posts: 11846
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Re: Vogelsang vs Glen Aulin - day hike from HSC area
If this will be one of many trips to Yosemite, then I would highly recommend going to the Glen Aulin area!
Waterwheel Falls, Le Conte Falls, and Tuolumne Falls are all beautiful at run-off, but add in the El Nino factor this year, and you have the chance to witness something truly unique to all of the Sierra.
The area above California Fall will be flooded, but this is not that big of a deal, you can skirt around base of the cliffs on the eastern side, then hook up with the trail again at the southern end, just make sure to take tevas or some other water shoes to follow the trail in some parts.
Waterwheel Falls, Le Conte Falls, and Tuolumne Falls are all beautiful at run-off, but add in the El Nino factor this year, and you have the chance to witness something truly unique to all of the Sierra.
The area above California Fall will be flooded, but this is not that big of a deal, you can skirt around base of the cliffs on the eastern side, then hook up with the trail again at the southern end, just make sure to take tevas or some other water shoes to follow the trail in some parts.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- jmherrell
- Topix Acquainted
- Posts: 70
- Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 2:41 pm
- Experience: N/A
Re: Vogelsang vs Glen Aulin - day hike from HSC area
One thing I like to do when at Glen Aulin is to hike up to Wildcat Point to get a better view of the area. I agree there is much more to do at Vogelsang but this may be peak water year.
- rlown
- Topix Docent
- Posts: 8225
- Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:00 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
- Location: Wilton, CA
Re: Vogelsang vs Glen Aulin - day hike from HSC area
+1jmherrell wrote:One thing I like to do when at Glen Aulin is to hike up to Wildcat Point to get a better view of the area. I agree there is much more to do at Vogelsang but this may be peak water year.
- maverick
- Forums Moderator
- Posts: 11846
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Re: Vogelsang vs Glen Aulin - day hike from HSC area
Yes, that is another major highlight, but unfortunately the OP did not give us feedback on her and the groups experience, so it was not recommended.One thing I like to do when at Glen Aulin is to hike up to Wildcat Point to get a better view of the area.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- rlown
- Topix Docent
- Posts: 8225
- Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:00 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
- Location: Wilton, CA
Re: Vogelsang vs Glen Aulin - day hike from HSC area
Not enough slack time in her proposed schedule to do it unless a day or two were added. But I agree with you Mav. Gauging from her intro post, probably not in the cards.
- The Other Tom
- Founding Member
- Posts: 970
- Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:06 pm
- Experience: N/A
- Location: Upstate South Carolina
Re: Vogelsang vs Glen Aulin - day hike from HSC area
One more thing...be sure to check the skeeter reports on this site before you go. That might make your decision easier
- Wandering Daisy
- Topix Docent
- Posts: 6694
- Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:19 pm
- Experience: N/A
- Location: Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento area)
- Contact:
Re: Vogelsang vs Glen Aulin - day hike from HSC area
This year, at the end of June, the best day-hiking may be in Yosemite Valley. Honestly, I think at peak water flow, there are more spectacular sights in the Valley and hikes from the Valley, than anything in the Tuolumne region. A hike up the Merced, camping between Little Yosemite Valley and the Merced HS camps (or at the campground at the Merced HSC) is a classic waterfall adventure. Yes, it can get crowded until you pass Little Yosemite Valley. Or even stay at Camp4 and day-hike from there. For example, Four Mile Trail- Panorama Trail, back via Mist Trail and JMT to Happy Isles. If doing the Merced hike, you can even make it a loop by cutting over to the JMT from Echo Valley on your return. Maybe you have already done all the hikes in the Valley, and in that case, I would vote for Glen Aulin, simply for the waterfalls. But even though I have done the Merced River hike a million times, it is my favorite every year at peak runoff. I never get bored with this hike.
Another thought- probably not likely, but Tioga Pass may not even be open to overnight parking.
Another thought- probably not likely, but Tioga Pass may not even be open to overnight parking.
- oleander
- Topix Expert
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:15 am
- Experience: N/A
Re: Vogelsang vs Glen Aulin - day hike from HSC area
I've been through both places twice. My vote is definitely for Glen Aulin!
A lot of it is subjective. I find the trail to Vogelsang via Rafferty Creek tedious and boring, and the somewhat longer way there via Lyell Canyon not much better. Whereas the trail to Glen Aulin is gorgeous all the way. Huge meadow (Tuolumne), beautiful watercourses, waterfalls, photo opps of peaks behind ponds...Lots of eye candy on that trail. The trail doesn't have all that much elevation loss, so I wouldn't worry about that. I remember it as a stroll.
Then there is the question of what you do after you get there. I hope you do have two nights, so you can adequately explore on the layover day. Here again my vote is for Glen Aulin, because the waterfalls just down the way (Waterwheel, etc.) are a must-see in Yosemite, and they will be close to their fullest/best at that time. The stuff above Vogelsang is what I might call nice, but not a must-see. And, Vogelsang is higher so it is more likely to still be snowbound in places in late June.
The caveat is that I've never camped at or immediately near Glen Aulin, so I don't know that situation.
- Elizabeth
A lot of it is subjective. I find the trail to Vogelsang via Rafferty Creek tedious and boring, and the somewhat longer way there via Lyell Canyon not much better. Whereas the trail to Glen Aulin is gorgeous all the way. Huge meadow (Tuolumne), beautiful watercourses, waterfalls, photo opps of peaks behind ponds...Lots of eye candy on that trail. The trail doesn't have all that much elevation loss, so I wouldn't worry about that. I remember it as a stroll.
Then there is the question of what you do after you get there. I hope you do have two nights, so you can adequately explore on the layover day. Here again my vote is for Glen Aulin, because the waterfalls just down the way (Waterwheel, etc.) are a must-see in Yosemite, and they will be close to their fullest/best at that time. The stuff above Vogelsang is what I might call nice, but not a must-see. And, Vogelsang is higher so it is more likely to still be snowbound in places in late June.
The caveat is that I've never camped at or immediately near Glen Aulin, so I don't know that situation.
- Elizabeth
- JWreno
- Topix Regular
- Posts: 308
- Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:55 am
- Experience: Level 3 Backpacker
- Location: Reno
Re: Vogelsang vs Glen Aulin - day hike from HSC area
I think Glen Aulin is a great two night trip especially for those who haven't much backpacking experience. It is an easy hike in. Spend two nights at the Glen Aulin backpackers campground. It isn't crazy busy in early June. Spend the 2nd day hiking down past Waterwheel falls. Great trip to shoot some HD video and photos. I did this trip back in 2002 as part of a trip where we did Vogelsang, Lewis Creek, Merced Lake, Bunnel Point, Half Dome, Tenaya Lake, Murphy Creek, 2 nights at Glen Aulin. We crossed a lot of snow going from Vogelsang to Lewis Creek. The falls all way down to Waterwheel falls were most impressive. If Waterwheel falls were part of Yosemite valley easily available to car visitors, it would be packed. We only saw 2 other groups on our day hike to Waterwheel falls.
Jeff
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: DaveF, Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot] and 29 guests